Heady, Judith | University of Michigan-Dearborn Archives

Name: Heady, Judith

Historical Note:

Professor Judith Heady joined the University of Michigan-Dearborn in as an assistant professor of biology in 1974 and was promoted to associate professor in 1979. She received a bachelor’s degree from Cornell College, a master’s degree from the University of Iowa, and a doctorate from the University of Colorado.

Heady’s work was in genetics and in “the control of transfer-RNA methylation during life changes particularly in Rana pipiens… By 1995, she turned her focus to biology education, teaching embryology, developmental biology, oranismal and environmental biology, and comparative anatomy of vertebrates. She also introduced three new courses: general genetics; histology; and gender and science. In addition she taught specialized seminars on topics such as women’s health, human reproduction, cancer and nutrition.”

The Regents memorial notes that “Professor Heady’s work on women and science, girls in science, women faculty, and classroom learning formed a nucleus of interests focused on the excitement of science.” Indeed Heady’s major focus over the last half of her career at UM-D centered on the field of science education, particularly the issue of women in science, engineering, and math. Her quest was how to make those fields attractive to girls and women. In addition, she studied how gender affected academic life and research opportunities for women. She was a founding member of the Women’s Studies Committee and contributed greatly to Women’s and Gender Studies on the campus. She made many presentations about women in science, and was a mentor to many students.

Professor Heady retired as associate professor emerita in April of 2007.